Oct 5, 2018

Halloween Web - Chris Raimo

I'm very pleased to kick off this year's Halloween Web interviews with one of my newer favorite spooky artists!

Please give a warm welcome to our first victim as tells us about himself.

By day I am an action figure packaging designer at NECA Toys, and by night I am an illustrator of all things spooky, paranormal, and weird. Last year I published a book of my art called “Spooky Things” and have another coming this October called “Book of Halloween."

What was Halloween like for you as a kid?

As a kid I used to love going to Halloween/craft stores and picking out or finding things to make my costumes, and fawning over the wall of masks. Halloween when I was a kid here in New Jersey was pretty standard, but I loved seeing people’s houses that went all out with decorating. Since my parents weren’t into me putting life sized zombies and monsters on their lawn, I would setup my horror action figures and mini ceramic Halloween town in my room.

Do you have a special Halloween memory?

One Halloween night, a friend and I decided we would try to scare people by having me dressed as Jason (Freddy vs Jason version) and him dressed as Leatherface with a real chainsaw. I would stand still on the lawn and wait for people to comment if I was fake or real, and when they got close my friend would chase them off with the chainsaw. Well our first “victims” walked by as I hear a stalling chainsaw and my friend frantically trying to get it started. The people laughed at us and we called it a night.

What about a favorite costume?

My favorite costume is actually from 2 years ago, when I went all out on making a creepy clown costume complete with a “skin” mask and an oversized hammer. People were so freaked out at our Halloween party that most wouldn’t talk to me or avoided eye contact completely. I have since added more masks to this character and even cosplay as him at different horror cons. (see first photo) @raimbowstheclown on Instagram by the way :)

How do you celebrate today?

Now that I have my own house, I have been decorating my house like those that I loved as a kid. I make most of my own decorations and try to add something new every year.

Do you have any yearly Halloween rituals?

Every year I watch Trick R Treat, it’s the ultimate fun, spooky, overall Halloween movie. I also throw a Halloween party every year with my in-laws, and always visit a pumpkin farm.

Why do you think we still love Halloween as adults?

I think nostalgia definitely plays a part, I mean its just fun to act like a kid and dress up and have some spooky fun. But I also believe once you’re hooked on Halloween, it’s for life.